铁皮石斛和重唇石斛及其杂交子代花的挥发性成分分析北大核心CSCD

为阐明铁皮石斛和重唇石斛及其杂交后代14L-3、14L-6、14L-7和14L-9花挥发性成分的变化,采用静态顶空气相色谱-质谱(GC-MS)联用技术对石斛花进行检测。结果表明,从石斛花中检测出81种挥发性成分,包括烯、酮、醛、烷几大类,铁皮石斛、重唇石斛、14L-3、14L-6、14L-7和14L-9分别有23、12、21、33、23和35种。铁皮石斛花的主成分是α-蒎烯,重唇石斛花是2-十五烷酮,4个子代花中均含有这2种来自亲本的特征成分,α-蒎烯是子代共同的主成分。亲本和子代石斛花共有成分是正己醛。子代14L-3、14L-6、14L-9均与母本铁皮石斛相似性高,相似性以14L-3>14L-6>14L-9,与父本差异性大。14L-7与亲本相似度最均衡。这为石斛育种研究提供了指导。     

中国部分野生黄精属植物的染色体核型分析

采用常规压片法,对中国部分野生黄精11个种、43个居群的染色体进行了核型分析,结果显示:(1) 43个居群均为二倍体,染色体数目在16～60之间,基数n=8、9、10、11、12、13、15、17、30。(2) 43个居群中,15个居群为"2B"型, 22个居群为"3B"型,6个居群核型为"2C"型;核型不对称系数在55.78%～75.60%,最长染色体与最短染色体的比值在2.01～6.12之间。(3) 43个居群中有23个居群有数目不等、位置不同的随体。(4)中国野生黄精资源从互生叶到轮生叶的染色体数目逐步增加,核型特点表现为:①臂比逐渐增大;②随体逐渐消失;③核型不对称性逐步增强;④不对称系数逐渐增加。研究表明,中国野生黄精不同种或居群的遗传多样表现在染色体数量、不同类型染色体数量以及它们在核型中的排序位置、随体的位置等方面的差异。     

Osteopontin-Enhanced Hepatic Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer Cells

Liver metastasis is a major cause of mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC). However, mechanisms underlying this process are largely unknown. Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted phosphorylated glycoprotein that is involved in tumor migration and metastasis. The role of OPN in cancer is currently unclear. In this study, OPN mRNA was examined in tissues from CRC, adjacent normal mucosa, and liver metastatic lesions using quantitative real-time PCR analysis. The protein expression of OPN and its receptors (integrin αv and CD44 v6) was detected by using an immunohistochemical (IHC) method. The role of OPN in liver metastasis was studied in established colon cancer Colo-205 and SW-480 cell lines transfected with sense- or antisense-OPN eukaryotic expression plasmids by flow cytometry and cell adhesion assay. Florescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) was used to study gap functional intercellular communication (GJIC) among OPN-transfected cells. It was found that OPN was highly expressed in metastatic hepatic lesions from CRC compared to primary CRC tissue and adjacent normal mucosa. The expression of OPN mRNA in tumor tissues was significantly related with the CRC stages. OPN expression was also detected in normal hepatocytes surrounding CRC metastatic lesions. Two known receptors of OPN, integrin αv and CD44v6 proteins, were strongly expressed in hepatocytes from normal liver. CRC cells with forced OPN expression exhibited increased heterotypic adhesion with endothelial cells and weakened intercellular communication. OPN plays a significant role in CRC metastasis to liver through interaction with its receptors in hepatocytes, decreased homotypic adhesion, and enhanced heterotypic adhesion.     

Heat shock protein 27 plays a protective role in thoracic aortic dissection by promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis

Background

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is one of the most severe aortic diseases. The study aimed to explore the potential role of heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) in the pathogenesis of TAD using an in vitro model of oxidative stress in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods

HSP27 was analyzed in aortic surgical specimens from 12 patients with TAD and 8 healthy controls. A lentiviral vector was used to overexpress HSP27 in rat aortic VSMCs. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were measured under oxidative stress induced by H₂O₂.

Results

HSP27 expression was significantly higher in aortic tissue from patients with TAD and VSMCs in the aortic media were the main cell type producing HSP27. Elevated oxidative stress was also detected in the TAD samples. Overexpression of HSP27 significantly attenuated H₂O₂-induced inhibition of cell proliferation. Furthermore, HSP27 was found to decrease H₂O₂-induced cell apoptosis and oxidative stress.

Conclusions

These results suggest that HSP27 expression promotes VSMC viability, suppresses cell apoptosis, and confers protection against oxidative stress in TAD.

     

质粒pcDNA3—HGF的大规模纯经制备研究

质粒ｐｃＤＮＡ３－ＨＧＦ具有潜在的临床治疗缺血性疾病的应用前景。大规模纯化制备是质粒ＤＮＡ应用于基因治疗的关键步骤。质粒大规模纯化制备流程包括：发酵、离心收集细胞、碱性裂解、Ｑ－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ ＸＬ捕获质粒ＤＮＡ、Ｓｏｕｒｃｅ １５Ｑ精制质粒ＤＮＡ,所得纯超螺旋质粒ｐｃＤＮＡ３－ＨＧＦ符合质量标准。该纯化制备方法避免使用动物源性的酶及有毒试剂。     

Estrogen Receptor-α36 Is Involved in Pterostilbene-Induced Apoptosis and Anti-Proliferation in In Vitro and In Vivo Breast Cancer

Pterostilbene (trans-3,5-dimethoxy-4′-hudroxystilbene) is an antioxidant primarily found in blueberries. It also inhibits breast cancer regardless of conventional estrogen receptor (ER-α66) status by inducing both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis. However, the pterostilbene-induced apoptosis rate in ER-α66-negative breast cancer cells is much higher than that in ER-α66-positive breast cancer cells. ER-α36, a variant of ER-α66, is widely expressed in ER-α66-negative breast cancer, and its high expression mediates the resistance of ER-α66-positive breast cancer patients to tamoxifen therapy. The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between the antiproliferation activity of pterostilbene and ER-α36 expression in breast cancer cells. Methyl-thiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT) assay, apoptosis analysis, and an orthotropic xenograft mouse model were used to examine the effects of pterostilbene on breast cancer cells. The expressions of ER-α36 and caspase 3, the activation of ERK and Akt were also studied through RT-PCR, western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. ER-α36 knockdown was found to desensitize ER-α66-negative breast cancer cells to pterostilbene treatment both in vitro and in vivo, and high ER-α36 expression promotes pterostilbene-induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells. Western blot analysis data indicate that MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling in breast cancer cells with high ER-α36 expression are mediated by ER-α36, and are inhibited by pterostilbene. These results suggest that ER-α36 is a therapeutic target in ER-α36-positive breast cancer, and pterostilbene is an inhibitor that targets ER-α36 in the personalized therapy against ER-α36-positive breast cancer.     

Long non-coding RNA HCG18 promotes M1 macrophage polarization through regulating the miR-146a/TRAF6 axis,facilitating the progression of diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most important complications in diabetes mellitus (DM), which has been reported to be modulated by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The purpose of the current study is to explore the regulatory mechanism of lncRNA HCG18 on DPN in vitro. The expression of lncRNA HCG18, miR-146a, TRAF6, CD11c, and iNOS was detected by qRT-PCR. Through Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were determined. M1 macrophage polarization was measured by flow cytometry analysis. The interactions between miR-146a and HCG18/TRAF6 were predicted by Starbase/Targetscan software and verified by the dual luciferase reporter assay. Western blot assay was performed to determine the protein expression of TRAF6. LncRNA HCG18 was highly expressed in DPN model and HG-induced macrophages. The levels of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were elevated in DPN model. The expression of M1 markers (CD11c and iNOS) was visibly up-regulated in DPN model and was positively correlated with HCG18 expression. LncRNA HCG18 facilitated M1 macrophage polarization. In addition, miR-146a was identified as a target of lncRNA HCG18. Overexpression of miR-146a reversed the promoting effect of HCG18 on M1 macrophage polarization. Simultaneously, TRAF6 was a target gene of miR-146a TRAF6 expression was positively modulated by HCG18 and was negatively modulated by miR-146a. Down-regulation of TRAF6 reversed the promoting effect of HCG18 on M1 macrophage polarization. LncRNA HCG18 promotes M1 macrophage polarization via regulating the miR-146a/TRAF6 axis, facilitating the progression of DPN. This study provides a possible therapeutic strategy for DPN.

     

Hyperuricemia Causes Pancreatic β-Cell Death and Dysfunction through NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Accumulating clinical evidence suggests that hyperuricemia is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, it is still unclear whether elevated levels of uric acid can cause direct injury of pancreatic β-cells. In this study, we examined the effects of uric acid on β-cell viability and function. Uric acid solution or normal saline was administered intraperitoneally to mice daily for 4 weeks. Uric acid-treated mice exhibited significantly impaired glucose tolerance and lower insulin levels in response to glucose challenge than did control mice. However, there were no significant differences in insulin sensitivity between the two groups. In comparison to the islets in control mice, the islets in the uric acid–treated mice were markedly smaller in size and contained less insulin. Treatment of β-cells in vitro with uric acid activated the NF-κB signaling pathway through IκBα phosphorylation, resulting in upregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and excessive nitric oxide (NO) production. Uric acid treatment also increased apoptosis and downregulated Bcl-2 expression in Min6 cells. In addition, a reduction in insulin secretion under glucose challenge was observed in the uric acid–treated mouse islets. These deleterious effects of uric acid on pancreatic β-cells were attenuated by benzbromarone, an inhibitor of uric acid transporters, NOS inhibitor L-NMMA, and Bay 11–7082, an NF-κB inhibitor. Further investigation indicated that uric acid suppressed levels of MafA protein through enhancing its degradation. Collectively, our data suggested that an elevated level of uric acid causes β-cell injury via the NF-κB-iNOS-NO signaling axis.